The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that 88 tertiary institutions in Nigeria conducted admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) for the 2022/2023 academic session, a practice the board deems illegal and void.
JAMB introduced CAPS in 2017 to centralise and automate admission processes between candidates and their chosen institutions. Despite warnings issued in 2020 against offering admissions through institutional portals, some schools have persisted in this practice, which JAMB describes as “a flagrant abuse” of the CAPS system.
In April 2024, JAMB reiterated its stance, warning that it would no longer tolerate admissions conducted outside CAPS. The board urged candidates to reject any admissions not processed through the official system.
A recent report titled “Compiled assessment of institutions on compliance with the 2022/2023 admission guidelines” evaluated institutions based on their adherence to admission protocols. Those fully complying received 10 points, partial compliance earned 5 points, and non-compliant institutions were awarded zero points.
Among the 88 institutions found to be non-compliant are several prominent universities and colleges, including the University of Uyo, the University of Abuja, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yaba College of Technology, and the Federal University of Technology Owerri.
JAMB emphasised that all applications for admissions to various programmes, including first degrees, national diplomas, and certificates in education, must be processed exclusively through JAMB, regardless of the mode of study.
This crackdown on illegal admissions underscores JAMB’s commitment to maintaining a standardised and transparent admission process across Nigerian tertiary institutions. The board’s actions aim to ensure fairness and integrity in the nation’s higher education system.
